…Rivers, Lagos lead In sachet Alcohol Sales Among Youths
.. 24% Of Minors Consume Alcohol Every Day, Survey Shows
…54% Of Minors Purchase Drinks Themselves, NAFDAC Reports
…Small, Concealable Packs Blamed For Easy Access
Daud Olatunji
Over half of Nigerian minors and underage children are buying alcohol for themselves, a national survey by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has revealed, highlighting a growing public health crisis.
The survey, titled “Underage Drinking and Abuse of Alcohol: Access to Alcohol and Frequency of Consumption,” was conducted by Research and Data Solutions Ltd, Abuja, between June and August 2021, in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN).
It was endorsed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, and released on Tuesday.
According to the study, alcohol remains one of the most widely abused substances among youths, with “availability and easy access to alcohol” cited as major drivers of consumption.
“The availability and easy access to alcohol have been identified as a contributory factor to the increasing alcohol consumption among minors,” Prof. Adeyeye said while presenting the findings.
Minors—children below 13 years—and underage youths aged 13 to 17 were found to obtain drinks from multiple sources, including shops, friends, relatives, social gatherings, and even parents’ homes.
Among respondents, 54.3% purchased alcohol themselves, while 49.9% obtained drinks from friends and relatives, and 45.9% accessed alcohol at social gatherings.
The survey, which covered 1,788 respondents across six states representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, revealed that sachets and PET bottles were the most common forms of alcohol purchased.
Rivers State recorded the highest rates—68% for sachets and 64.5% for PET bottles—followed by Lagos (52.3% and 47.7%, respectively) and Kaduna (38.6% and 28.4%).
“The proportion of drinks procured in sachets was higher among males (51.4%) compared to females (41.5%), and more in rural (50.1%) compared to urban (45.3%) locations,” the report stated.
Among minors and underage respondents who bought alcohol themselves, 47.2% of minors and 48.8% of underaged youths procured drinks in sachets, while 41.2% of minors and 47.2% of underaged respondents bought PET bottles.
The study also highlighted alarming drinking patterns. While 63.2% of minors and 54% of underaged youths were occasional drinkers, 24% consumed alcohol daily, and 11% drank at least once a week.
Among children below 13 years, 9.3% reported drinking every day.
Prof. Adeyeye warned that the widespread availability of small, easily concealable alcohol packs is fueling underage drinking.
“Access to alcohol by children can be limited if pack sizes that can be easily concealed are not available,” she said.
She added that “a ban on small pack sizes, including sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres, can reduce the menace of underage drinking.”
The agency also appealed to parents, teachers, religious leaders, and the community to take collective responsibility.
“Consumption of alcohol by children should raise alarm for parents, teachers, religious leaders and the community at large,” the report stated.
NAFDAC’s findings underscore the urgent need for policy interventions and public awareness campaigns to curb underage drinking in both urban and rural communities.
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